"Come here, Reese's pieces!" Sonny called, capping his hands and cooing when the puppy trotted over to him, wagging her whole body as she picked up a toy in her mouth and carried it to him.
"You know that's not what I named her after, right?" Jess watched the pair and tried not to laugh when the overgrown child lay on the floor and let the puppy nibble his ears.
"Yeah, well, you got all fancy on me with 'Reese-a' so I'm callin her 'Reese's Pieces' instead. Dang good candy too."
"Ok, but 'Reisa' isn't named after candy, it's a latin word for laughter! Risa is laughter, and then there's a hebrew rendition of it that's Rhesa, which means healing, but I also found 'Reisa' as a spelling for laughter in latin too, but then also some people said it means-"
"Basically chocolate heals. I'm all for that! I love chocolate! Come here you little chocolate fluff ball! Look at these ears! She's like a perfect, fluffy lab!"
Jess groaned and turned around to shoot Scott a pleading look. He wasn't any help.
"Don't look at me," He told her with his usual pretend grumpiness. "I told you it didn't matter what you called the thing, they would make nicknames for her anyway."
"Well it was either that or Heskil!"
"Do I even want to ask what Heskil means?"
"It's elvish, for 'winter one' and Reisa was born in the winter months so-"
"Elvish. You may as well have named her Strider!"
"No. She's my little healing laughter. I need laughter."
"I think it's a great name," Brock told her, ever the genuine enthusiast. "And it fits her really well, whatever you meant by it. Did you get a chance to watch those videos I sent you?"
"Yeah! They've been super helpful! Thank you!"
"Good!" Brock ruffled Bruno's ears and asked, "You coming out tonight? We're hazing Vic some more."
"Is he the new guy?" Jess asked, curious.
"Yeah. You can watch us give him a proper welcome! It'll be fun!" Sonny chimed in from where he was 'wrestling' with Reisa. Something in his tone suggested he had some feeling about Vic and that made Jess even more curious.
Part of her wanted to stay out of it. Scott recommended that, but she also wanted to meet the new member who would be watching her family's backs. Not that her opinion mattered. She just wanted to know who it was.
"I guess I could do with getting out and studying in my favorite spot again, for a change. I don't think I've been in…well, since- you know." Jess went quiet as Brock and Sonny exchanged a look.
"Then it's about damn time you got out of the house!"
"I do have a test I need to study for and I'm not focusing here. Maybe a change will do some good. Ordinarily I would go to a cafe but I can't stomach that either because- well it reminds me of other wonderful fun things-" Jess rushed to change the topic. "So, when are we going?"
"Any time." Scott grumbled from the hall as he emerged from his room. "If you're coming we may as well take your car. If you want to leave early I'll either come or catch a ride with one of these idiots."
"Sounds good! Let me grab my bag!"
"Wow, hold up, shouldn't we be walking these dogs first?" Brock asked, gesturing to the room.
Cerberus was sprawled on the couch, watching with mild interest as Sonny and Reisa played. They'd introduced him to Bruno earlier and it went wonderfully. At first Jess hadn't' been sure how the two dogs would get along, but within the first two minutes of meeting they'd simultaneously playbowed at each other and went tearing around the back yard, playing. After that success they introduced Cerberus to Reisa and again, the older dog was good as gold, tolerating the puppy with patience and kindness.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Jess decided quickly. "I should walk these two before."
"Cerb could use a walk too," said Brock, reaching for his coat. "I'll join you and you can show me what you've been doing with Reisa!"
"Ok!"
Jess hurried to grab her own coat and the leashes for Bruno and Reisa. In truth she was relieved to have a moment alone with Brock. She had something she really needed to talk to him about.
"Don't be out too long!" Sonny called from the floor. "There's only so much conversation I can strike up with that caveman over there."
Jess snickered when Scott threw a bottle cap at Sonny and muttered something about, 'not inviting him over anyway'.
"Ready to go?" Brock clipped Cerberus's leash on.
"Yup! Come on, Reisa!"
Cerberus gave a slow wag of his tail as the puppy danced around his legs, patiently sniffing her over while Bruno sat next to Jess's feet, watching.
"I'm really glad that Cerbie and Bruno are getting along! I was worried they wouldn't."
"Aw, Cerb is a good judge of character. How long do you have Bruno anyway?"
"Well," Jess glanced over her shoulder toward Scott's room and lowered her voice. "Actually, I need to talk to you about something while we're out."
Brock grew serious and a furrow appeared between his brows.
"Of course! Let's get going and you can tell me whatever you need."
Once they were outside and walking down the street, Cerberus trotted perfectly next to his master and Bruno meandered along with Reisa, as if thinking he was the puppy's babysitter.
"So, what's going on?" Brock finally asked when Jess didn't speak by the fourth driveway.
Turning her collar up to the cold and damp, Jess heaved a sigh that suggested she had the weight of the world on her shoulders and said, "Bruno's owner can't take him back."
"What?"
"She's moving to New York to look after her mom because she had a stroke and she can't keep him in the tiny apartment building. She has to rehome him and doesn't have time to take care of it and her mom and move, so she-" Jess bit her lips together, fighting tears. "She told me I'm welcome to keep him, but if I can't keep him to just drop him off at an animal shelter."
"You can't be serious."
"I am. So now…now I have to do something and find him a home because I can't do that to him, Brock! He's such a good boy and he doesn't deserve any of this!"
"No! He doesn't!" Brock shook his head grimly and eyed the large dog with empathy.
"I don't know what to do," Jess confessed shakily, scrubbing at her eyes and pausing so Reisa could smell something on the ground. "I need your help."
"Why not keep him?" Brock suggested simply.
Jess swallowed more tears and whispered, "I already have a dog! No matter how much I love him, I have a responsibility to Reisa and I can't afford another dog."
Brock gave her a look. "Have you even talked to Metal yet?"
Smothering a groan, Jess shook her head.
"No, and I can't ask him to keep him either because he's already paying for literally everything with Reisa, all her vet bills and for most of the food, plus he bought her for me. She financially his dog really-"
"Hey. Knock it off, you know it's not like that at all and he'd kick your ass if he heard you say that. She's a gift and what she costs doesn't matter."
"I know, but it's true! And I already…take so much from him, invade his life and he makes me food all the time, listens to me whine and complain, and I wake him up in the night with my screaming still and I already owe him so much-"
"Jess!" Brock stopped her with a quick hand on her arm, bending down a bit so he could properly see her face. Tone earnest and sincere, he said, "Metal's caring for you doesn't come with a price tag! None of us caring about you and doing things for you comes with a price tag that you have to repay! You know that."
Jess didn't answer, instead studying the ground and fighting back the bursting emotion that screamed, 'But I don't! I should and I don't!'
"Jess?" Brock still had his hand on her shoulder, gripping it gently as he tilted his head, trying to see into her face better. "You do know that, right?"
Drawing a shaking breath, Jess knew she had to answer, so she nodded and admitted weakly, "Sometimes what my head knows and what my heart knows doesn't always match."
Conflict flickered through Brock's empathetic face and he gave her shoulder the tiniest of shakes, "Then keep holding on to what your head knows, and we'll keep trying to convince your heart that it can trust us. We all love you, and care about you. It doesn't come with any catch or debt to be repaid. Got it?"
Fighting back the familiar sting in her throat, Jess managed a watery smile and nodded bravely, croaking, "Got it."
Mostly satisfied, Brock started them walking again, frowning at the ground.
"You should talk to Metal," Brock told her when they reached the end of the street. "I think if you even just tell him what's going on with Bruno's owner you might be surprised. In fact, I'll bet you that he'll come up with a solution before you finish speaking."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it's Metal. He finds solutions. And I know he loves that dog. That's his dog, Jess. Hands down, I know. Bruno's his dog now. The mutt's claimed him already and Metal complains about him too much for it to go any other way. He's gonna want to keep Bruno."
"Scott really does have a funny way of showing affection." Jess mused as she considered how much he really did growl and gripe at the dog at the same time as sneaking him table scraps, letting him sleep in his bed and taking him for runs.
"You only just figured that out?" Brock laughed. "His way of showing concern with us is to either beat us up or call us infants while bullying us into going to bed. He's really way nicer to you."
"I know."
Brock accepted the silence easily and they walked another half block before Jess volunteered, "I went for coffee with some new friends this week."
"You did?"
"Yeah. I met them at the self defense classes. Hallie and Ellie are the two I've seemed to hit it off with though. They're both into the same kinds of stuff as me and we've all got a fair bit in common."
"That's awesome, Jess!" said Brock warmly. "I'm really happy to hear that!"
"I got the 'ok' from the college to bring Reisa to class as my 'support dog' in training. It's not official yet because, well, she isn't really a service animal, but the teachers all agreed to turn a blind eye if she didn't disrupt class."
"We can get her certified as an emotional support animal. I know people."
A laugh slipped out and Jess stooped down to untangle Reisa's legs from her leash, saying, "I figured as much. Why do you think I've basically put you in charge of making sure I train her right?"
"I have a few ideas for Bruno too," Brock told her with a smile.
"If he stays…then I'm all ears."
"Oh, I have no doubt in my mind that he's staying," Brock answered confidently. "So, park or take a long walk? How's Reisa's recall coming along?"
"I could probably work on her recall, she's great in the yard and at home but could use a challenge of new surroundings."
"Perfect! Let's see what she's got!"
Turning up the street, they headed to the quiet park where they could let the dogs off leash.
"So, how's everything going?" Jess asked, even though she already asked earlier that day when he and Sonny showed up.
"Not too bad. Cerberus is doing great and working hard. So are the rest of us. We got our new member on the team now. He seems ok."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"It's not causing…I don't know…issues?"
Brock gave a humorless laugh and shook his head.
"You're fishing for information."
"A little. I can't help it. Scott mentioned a while back about a storm brewing and that things with Bravo might get a little heated and messy, but not to get too worried about it, but I am anyway. So…how bad is it?"
"Well, I don't want to influence your opinions of Vic, so I won't say much there. Let you make your own conclusions," Brock scratched his chin and scanned the world around them with hawklike vigilance. "But as for the rest of how we're all doing, it's a little bumpy. Some interpersonal drama between some of them and it's a bit tedious."
"Like…what?" Jess asked hesitantly, not sure if she was overstepping.
Brock clearly debated with himself before admitting quietly, "Jason's got some stuff going on. Ray's got something up his sleeve with wanting to make Warrant Officer. Sonny's been a bear for weeks and there's weirdness with him and Ray."
"Huh. Wonder why."
"You can wonder all you like, but you gotta promise me you won't ask questions or get involved, you hear me?"
"I know."
"Good. Just…keep being you and never mind the rest when you're hanging out with us. They never like to let you see those parts anyway so it shouldn't affect you."
"Why tell me then?"
"Because they're idiots and I don't want it to come out of left field and upset you if something does go down when you're around."
"Oh. Well, I appreciate that. I don't super love surprises these days."
"That makes sense. Alright. Let's let that pup off leash and work on her recall. Got your treats?"
"Always!"
They got back an hour later and Brock hadn't forgotten their earlier conversation concerning Bruno because the second they got in the door, he said loud enough for Scott to hear, "You should just talk to Metal now, before we go out. Get it off your mind."
"Talk to me about what?" Scott asked gruffly as he walked past.
Exchanging a look with Brock and earning herself a head tilt of encouragement, Jess took a deep breath before saying quickly, "Bruno's owner has to move to New York to look after her mom and she lives in a tiny apartment that doesn't allow dogs, and she said to take him to the animal shelter if he can't stay here for the long term and I don't know what to do."
Scott had long since stopped walking and pivoted to stare at her with absolutely no expression at all.
"So….yeah," Jess tagged that one weakly, almost by way of a pleading apology. "I-I can't try to find a shelter that fosters out dogs, and maybe that'll…give him a better chance at finding a home because…we…I…I-can't-keep him."
Bruno chose then to saunter up to Scott and lean his head on his leg. Still expressionless, Scott reached down and gave Bruno a good ear rub before saying, "No. You aren't keeping him."
Taking a deep, careful breath, Jess got ready to say that she understood, but she never got the chance.
"What makes you think you get to keep my dog?" Scott asked, finally looking up and giving her the smallest of smirks, warming that stone exterior and giving a hint of what was under the surface.
It took four beats for Jess to process his words, but Brock started to laugh instantly.
"I knew it!" He cheered, fist pumping the air. "I knew you would keep him!"
Sonny gave a chuckle and sat back, enjoying the moment with glee as he plotted ways to tease his teammate later about the dog.
"Shut up," Scott growled, throwing a false glare at the other man. "He's a good guard dog, nothing more. Isn't that right, you lazy bag of bones?"
"You're keeping him?" Jess breathed hopefully.
"Yeah. He's mine now and that lady can fight me for him if she ever wants him back. Period. Now, does that clear things up for you?"
"Are you sure?!"
Scott practically rolled his eyes and looked at Bruno, growling, "What are we going to do with her?"
Bruno gave a huffing sigh as if to say, 'I don't know, she's your problem.'
Predictably, Jess rushed forward to hug the man tightly, whispering a broken, "Thank you!"
"What are you thanking me for? He's my dog." Scott grumbled while squeezing her back.
"Aww…that's sweet! We goin out or not?" Sonny asked with a whine. "If we take too long we'll miss out on all the hazing!"
A giggle escaped Jess as Scott pushed her away gently and she said, "Yeah, I'll grab my stuff!"
Happiness and relief coursed through her veins.
Bruno was going to be ok and she was going to see her family.
They hadn't all been together in a while, which made sense if tensions were rising between everyone.
Jess just hoped they all had a good night tonight. They needed it.
They did arrive late.
The party was already somewhat started when the four of them walked in the door at the Bulkhead.
It wasn't hard to figure out who the newbie was. Vic was baby faced compared to the rest of them, even Clay. He really couldn't be that much older than her.
Jess smiled politely as she joined the group, tucking in between Clay and Scott.
"So you're Jess!" Vic said with a charming smile. "I've heard a lot about you!"
"Good things, I hope," Jess answered.
"Oh, yeah, all good stuff!"
"Except the part where you're a pain in the ass," Jason added with mock seriousness.
"Wow. Ok, well, you're all a bunch of sunshines and rainbows yourselves, you know!" Jess jabbed back, trying not to let on that the well meaning tease slipped through her walls and hurt a bit anyway. Jason was usually gentler when teasing her. Brock was right. He was off.
"Aw, don't listen to him," Ray patted her on the shoulder. "He's just cranky and old. How you doing, Jess?"
"I'm good. I just wanted to see everyone and then study because I have a test coming up."
"You know this isn't a library, right?" Clay teased, grinning when she threw a half hearted glare his way.
"How are you feeling after that workout?" Jason asked, kicking back his beer while he waited for her to answer.
"Well, I couldn't move and I'm never lifting weights again, but other than that I feel pretty good!"
"I meant what I said," Jason pointed at her. "Any time, just text me and if we can make it happen, we will."
"I gotta make sure it's better hours than that though," Jess countered with some unease and shyness. "Scott says I'm better off still trying to keep good hours for sleep even if it's hard right now and my therapist agrees."
"Yeah, well, what do they know. Best way to stop thinking about it all is to keep moving."
Jess wisely kept quiet and beside her Scott did the same.
"You sleeping ok, though?" Trent asked as Clay moved off to grab more drinks. He was quiet enough that it didn't draw the whole party into the conversation.
"Hello to you too!" Jess quipped lightly. "And yes, I sleep 'ok'."
"Just asking, kid." Trent offered a smile and patted her on the back. "It's good to see you, by the way. We miss you."
"Yeah, if Jason didn't keep us so damn busy we would have more time to see you!" said Sonny.
"Gotta keep in peak operating condition, Sonny," Ray put in quietly. "You know that."
"Yeah, well, I'm just saying that it would be nice to see some people we care about, Ray Ray."
Ice slipped up Jess's back as she sensed that underlying tension that Brock mentioned and she bit her lip, unconsciously tucking closer to Scott.
"So, you're a student?" Vic asked, completely obvious to the tension and hardly taking his eyes off Jess, smiling a bit whenever she spoke.
"Yeah, second time round," Jess told him vaguely. Something about him was reminding her of guys that she normally avoided at bars, but the other part of her was arguing that she was being paranoid and rude. To be polite she added, "I already have a diploma. Working on a degree now."
"Wow! In what?"
"Plants, biology and ecosystems basically."
"That's neat!" Vic told her, seeming to be grasping for something more to say and failing. "You must be really smart to do that much schooling!"
Offering a half laugh, Jess shrugged and said lightly, "Either smart or stupid to keep giving them my money."
"You want a drink, kid?" Scott asked, coming to her rescue when Vic seemed about to say something more.
"Um, I don't know. I should come see if they have that one I like and can't remember the name of!"
Taking the excuse to leave the interaction with the new team member, Jess followed Scott from the table as Jason, Ray and Trent started up a pool game.
It was Clay who spotted the way Vic was still smiling a bit and tracking Jess across the room.
"Hey, man. Don't," Clay said quietly to Vic as Jess moved away. "Don't do that, ok?"
"Don't do what?" Vic asked, almost playing the innocent part perfectly.
"Just, trust me. Jess is off limits."
"Last I checked she was a grown adult and don't you have a girl or something already?"
"That's not what I meant," Clay said with a little more force and ice. "She's off limits. Leave it."
"Hey, I was just being friendly, man. I don't know what you thought you saw but-"
"Good. Keep it that way or you'll have Metal's foot up your ass."
Vic had the brains to blanche just a bit at the mention of Full Metal, but he wasn't completely dissuaded.
Later that same evening-
"Hey! How are you doing, Jess?"
"I'm good," Jess answered tolerantly, glancing up from her books. "Lot's of studying going on. You?"
"Just trying to keep up with Bravo team!" Vic told her, smiling geninaly. "What are you studying?"
"Botany."
"Aww…why don't you set all that aside for the night? Come join us! Why else would you come out?"
Mild annoyance started to build and Jess looked up from her books again.
"Because I have to study and I didn't want to be home alone."
"Well, what are you studying right now? Maybe I can help!"
"Do you know anything about the evolution of the orcid?"
"Ah, no."
"Then you don't have the information I need to be helpful."
"Well, we could talk about something else-" Vic held up his drink and offered a charming smile. "At least let me buy you a drink?"
Groaning inside because this was too familiar to when guys used to try to talk to her when she went out with her housemates, but at the same time wanting to give Vic the benefit of the doubt since he was part of Bravo team now, Jess put her book down.
"I'm good, but thanks. What do you want to talk about?" She asked patiently.
"How well do you know Clay?" Vic said quietly, casting a quick look at the pool tables where most of Bravo was right now.
Frowning at the topic choice, Jess shrugged and answered with neutrality, "Well enough. Why?"
"I don't think he likes me, but I don't know what I did."
For a second Jess almost felt sorry for the guy. He seemed to be serious and upset by the thought that Clay didn't like him.
"Why do you think he doesn't like you?"
"He's not very friendly and says things."
"Like what?" Jess lowered her tone, listening carefully and giving Vic her full attention.
Vic leaned in closer and shrugged, saying, "I don't know, stuff like I should stay away from you, and not talk to you."
Jess blinked at him, trying to figure out why he was talking quieter and what the heck that look on his face was supposed to be telling her. Why was he staring at her? Did this guy ever blink?!
"Ok?" Jess waited for more. Vic didn't continue so she sat back, running a hand through her hair. "Well, have you talked to him about it and tried to sort it out yourself?"
"No, I just-"
"Look, I don't interfere with Bravo problems unless I have no choice. Scott always tells me not to and I listen to him. Figure out whatever it is yourself, don't involve me."
Heart hammering, Jess tried to keep her face impassive as her brain worked to figure out what was going on. Why would Clay tell Vic to stay away from her? Did he know something about Vic and didn't want him near Jess for a reason?
"That's not what I meant-" Vic broke off and gave an indulgent laugh, drinking his beer again. "Ok, you know what? Never mind, your point is taken. So where'd you grow up?"
Still confused and feeling like she was missing something, Jess said shortly, "Maine."
"Wow! So far north! That's cool. I grew up in-"
Just then Jess caught sight of Trevor cutting through the crowd, scanning as though looking for friends and she couldn't stop herself from waving at him.
The man grinned when he saw her, drawing an equally bright smile to her own face as she called, "Hi, Trevor!"
Trevor detoured from wherever he'd been going and came directly to the table.
"Hi, Jess! Haven't seen you out in a while! You doing alright?" Trevor glanced between her and Vic before holding out his hand and saying amiably, "Hi, I'm Trevor, nice to meet you!"
"Vic Lopez," Vic answered, shaking his hand and seeming to force a smile.
"You meeting people?" Jess asked, hoping the answer was no and that he would stay. He would save her having to talk to Vic alone.
"Meeting your people, actually! Brock invited me out," Trevor told her, his brighter smile returning when she spoke. Warmth flooded his voice, warming Jess through and through. Somehow he always managed to make it seem like the person he was talking to was the most important thing in the world. "This where they're based out of tonight?"
"Yeah, I'm holding down the fort! Wanna sit?"
Vic sat back, taking another long drink of his beer as Trevor took an empty chair on the other side of Jess.
"So how do you know the guys?" Vic asked casually. "You a frogman too?"
Trevor laughed, "Oh, hell no. I'm just a cop who has to step in once in a while and grew up with Brock."
"So you aren't military at all?" Vic raised an eyebrow, and some unspoken challenge entered the air.
Jess bristled suddenly, disliking the change in tone greatly.
"Why does that matter?" She said a little sharply.
"It's ok, Jess," Trevor shot her a head tilt and a patient half smile before answering Vic lightly, "Two tours. Got out after an injury, was called to something else. You?"
"I'm a frogman and that's all I ever want to be." Vic answered, smiling suddenly and raising his beer as if he'd won at something and felt good about it.
"That's awesome, man," Trevor raised his beer in return. "How long have you been on the team?"
"Few weeks."
"Nice! Hey, Jess, you want another drink?"
"Actually, yeah! If you don't mind?"
"For sure! What do you have?"
"Um…well, just water."
"One water, coming up! Vic? You want anything?"
"I'll take a bourbon if you're buying."
"Sure thing!"
Trevor left the table and Jess picked up her book again. She was left in peace for a few glorious minutes before Vic tried to start up the conversation again.
"So, you're just gonna go back to studying, just like that?"
"Yes?"
"You must have really good grades! I can't understand half the words in there, but my mom had a garden and I helped with it a bit! She always said I had a bit of a green thumb."
"That's nice!" Jess scanned her page, hunting for where she left off. Then, because she felt a bit rude, she asked, "What did she grow?"
"Oh, all kinds of stuff!" Vic told her. "Hey, do you like dancing?"
"Nope."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Vic, I don't mean to be rude, but I really gotta study, ok?"
"Right! Of course. Sorry." Vic reacted like a mix between a kicked puppy and a shy little boy. "I'll go join the boys then, and get out of your hair."
"Wow, hey, where are you going? I got your drink!" Trevor reappeared holding out the bourbon to Vic as he rose from the table.
"Oh, thanks man. I'm just going to join the game. Jess is trying to study."
"Ah, yes. That's pretty common," Trevor set the water next to Jess along with a soda and a bowl of pretzels he'd swiped from the bar. "What are you working on tonight?"
Smiling her thanks, Jess flipped the textbook over and said, "Botany. Put simply."
"Simple is good for me," Trevor told her seriously, squinting at the title of the book. "Morphology?"
"Yeah, it's an in depth study of the different organs of the plant, which ties into the course it's for, Plant Pathology."
While Vic hesitated, watching the pair of them, Trevor considered what she told him with genuine interest, "Huh. You know, I've rarely thought about the fact that plants must have organs."
"Yeah! They do, see here in this picture? This is a basic plant that everyone could recognise, but what people don't see is that the stem, and the roots, and the leaves, they all have subsystems that are complex and at the microscope level they-"
"Ok, slow down," Trevor abandoned all appearances of going with Vic to join the others, ignoring him as he gave Jess his full attention. "I'm not that bright when it comes to biology, so walk me through it all like I'm five. What are you studying right now?"
"Plant Path!" Jess dragged her textbook closer and pointed to the layout of diagrams and notes. "So here I have to learn all the chemicals involved with this process here-"
Shaking his head, Trevor breathed, "That looks way complicated."
Not once did Jess get the feeling he was humoring her or buttering her up. That just wasn't his style. He was sincere in his awe.
Behind them Vic turned and walked away as Jess said modestly, "It's not as bad as it looks. You should try bio-chem! That's headache inducing!"
"Shit! You've done bio-chem too?"
"Yup! So this isn't so bad, but it's a lot of terms to remember."
"If you teach me how to pronounce them and don't mind me butchering a few of the names when I say them, I could quiz you," Trevor paused, and added with slight uncertainty, "If it would help."
"You don't mind?!" Jess asked, craning her head round so she could see her family. "Brock invited you out-"
"He won't miss me. Besides! They've got Vic over there to take my place."
"Ok!" Buzzing happily and utterly at ease, Jess pointed to the first term on her list. "So this one isn't pronounced the way it looks at all."
"Oh good! I'm excited!"
An hour and a half and a good deal of laughing later, Jess had over half of her terms and information memorized and Trevor could pronounce most of them without stumbling.
Toward the end of the night, as the boys got a little more rowdy with their drinking and Vic tried to keep up with them, Jess started to notice something.
More and more she was catching him looking over at her with those longer, lingering stares.
She didn't like it and it felt weird.
"You ok?" Trevor asked out of the blue when she glanced over her shoulder again.
"Yeah."
"Boys are ok. Just blowing off steam." Trevor said it as if giving her a gentle reminder and trying to reassure her.
"I know. It's not that, it's just…"
"Something bugging you?"
"A bit."
"Is it a person?" Trevor said the words with enough lightness in his tone that Jess completely missed the hardened edge that promised to deal with anything she asked if needed.
"Yeah…it is actually. Can you excuse me a sec? I just need to talk to Scott for a minute."
"Of course! He'll sort it out for you, of that I have no doubts. I'll keep your seat for you!"
Gracing the young man with a genuine smile, Jess threw, "Thank you!" over her shoulder as she walked away.
Moving through the crowd without too much anxiety because she knew Scott saw her coming, Jess slipped in next to him by the wall near the pool tables.
"What's up, pipsqueak?"
"Um…can you do me a favor?"
"What do you need."
Jess turned so her back was to Vic even though he was a good distance away, talking up some girls with Sonny between looking at her.
"I might be imagining things, and I probably am, but do you think you could just keep an eye on Vic and…if he keeps watching me can you ask him not to, please? I-I don't like it."
Scott shifted from light and easy natured to stone faced and serious as he hooked an arm around her and led her to a quieter spot in the bar, asking, "What do you mean watching?"
"It's probably nothing-"
"Pips."
"Ok," Jess relented as she ducked out from under his arm and leaned her back against the wall, welcoming the way Scott's massive form blocked out the rest of the bar as if sheltering her from it all so she could speak. "I just, every time I look over, I catch him watching, and he doesn't look away right away either! And it's…lingering and weird. And I don't like it. Could-could you just watch and if you notice it too, could you talk to him?"
"I'll sort it. You good?"
"Yeah."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
"How's Bailey?"
"He's good! Helping me study, actually!"
"Good. Glad someone is. Meant to, but-"
"No, it's ok! I know you guys have had a lot going on. I'm sorry if I'm getting in the way."
"You are never in the way. Might need you to drive me home, though."
"Yup!"
"Thanks, kid. And don't worry about Lopez. I'll sort him out."
"Thank you!"
Metal wasted minimal time approaching Vic when Jess returned to her table. Even as she walked across the room he caught Lopez watching her again and yes, she was right.
Irritation boiled up and Metal let it surface just enough to get his point across, channeling every inch of his reputation as he took Vic by the arm and dragged him away from Sonny and the girls they were talking to.
"Hey- What's going on, man-"
"I'm gonna say this once and only once." Metal snarled softly so that no more attention was drawn to them and he could have this 'little chat' quietly. "Jess is off limits. Don't even think about it, it ain't happening."
Vic squinted at him and made an odd smile, indicating that he was drunk enough to be stupid as he said lightly, "Don't you think a lady should be allowed to make her own decisions? As far as I was aware she's like a kid or sister to you."
"She is, rookie," Metal told him icily. "She doesn't like how much you're staring, and frankly neither do I. Either knock it off or lose your eyeballs and your place on Bravo, because not only are we all damn fond of her, Jason views her as a daughter just as much as I see her has my family, so. Back. Off."
"Right. Ok. Fine. I'll look other ways…you…you can't blame a guy for trying though! She's amazing!"
"You didn't stand a chance," Metal muttered, walking away already and flicking a quick assessment over Jess as she laughed at something Trevor said to her.
Good to see her smile and good to see her so at ease. The fact it was with that particular young man wasn't surprising and only confirmed what he'd thought he'd seen ages ago.
He was going to have to keep an eye on Bailey.
An: Btw...K? This is all being updated for you btw. You're welcome and I hope you feel better soon!